AAP leader and former Delhi Chief Minister Atishi was among more than 500 protesters detained by Delhi Police on October 2 during a demonstration at and around Jantar Mantar against Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar.
The protest, organised by political parties, student groups and civil society activists, centred on concerns over the Election Commission’s functioning and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, with protesters demanding Kumar’s resignation.
AAP leaders Saurabh Bharadwaj, Sanjeev Jha and Sanjay Singh were also detained or stopped from reaching the protest site, while student activists were among those taken into custody. Police said permission for the gathering had not been granted and restrictions under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were in force across the New Delhi district. Protesters, meanwhile, maintained that their demonstration was peaceful and framed the mobilisation as a defence of voting rights and democratic accountability.
Detentions Escalate Tension
The protest unfolded amid a heavy security presence around Jantar Mantar, with barricades, traffic restrictions and restrictions on access to several nearby Metro stations. Delhi Police said around 500 people were detained from and near the protest site, although some reports put the number at more than 700 when protesters stopped at other locations were included.
Atishi, Bharadwaj, Jha and several student activists were among those detained. Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh was stopped at North Avenue and prevented from proceeding towards Jantar Mantar. Bharadwaj, after being detained, said the protest should continue peacefully and within the constitutional framework.
Before the demonstration, Atishi had urged people to gather at Jantar Mantar, arguing that the right to vote was central to democracy. AAP has alleged that the SIR exercise could disenfranchise legitimate voters, while the Election Commission has maintained that its electoral-roll processes are intended to identify and remove duplicate, ineligible or otherwise problematic entries.
SIR Row Fuels Protest
The October 2 mobilisation followed weeks of political and public debate surrounding the SIR exercise and allegations concerning changes to electoral rolls. Opposition parties and civil society groups have raised questions about the process and its potential impact on voters, while the Election Commission has rejected suggestions that its actions are politically motivated.
The Commission has said that decisions concerning the SIR were taken unanimously and has announced measures including door-to-door verification in certain cases and a review of voter-roll software following concerns raised publicly about the process. The controversy intensified after reports of internal discussions among election commissioners over aspects of the exercise.
The Commission has described such differences as part of institutional deliberation and maintained that the electoral process is governed by law. Against this backdrop, the demand for Kumar’s resignation has become a rallying point for several opposition and activist groups, with parallel demonstrations also planned in other parts of the country.
The Logical Indian’s Perspective
Peaceful protest and open disagreement are important parts of a democratic society, particularly when citizens raise questions about an institution as fundamental as the Election Commission.
At the same time, allegations surrounding electoral rolls, voter deletions and institutional decision-making should be examined through verifiable evidence, transparent procedures and credible public explanations rather than political rhetoric alone. Authorities have a responsibility to maintain public order, while protesters and political organisations also have a responsibility to keep demonstrations peaceful and lawful.
The larger concern should be ensuring that every eligible citizen can trust the electoral process and that disagreements are addressed through dialogue, evidence and constitutional mechanisms. How can political leaders, institutions and citizens work together to protect both the right to dissent and public confidence in India’s elections?
Also Read: Neha Bora, Yogendra Yadav Among Several Detained At Jantar Mantar Protest, Internet Suspended
फतेहपुर बेरी पुलिस थाने में भी क्रांतिकारियों का जोश क़ायम है।
— Atishi (@AtishiAAP) October 2, 2026
हम लोकतंत्र के लिए लड़ते रहेंगे। हम मोदी जी की पुलिस से डरने वाले नहीं हैं, ज्ञानेश कुमार को जाना होगा। pic.twitter.com/twCIeN4Sd9
